Wills and Probate Solicitors in London, Birmingham and Northampton

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Deciding to write a valid will is often an emotionally challenging process and our team will be there to guide you through it. Our goal is to empower you to make the important decisions about securing the well-being of your loved ones and take the necessary steps to create a legally binding Will that ensures that your wishes are adhered to after your death. We can also include a video testament to your Will.

We offer a holistic service that covers all your will-related needs. Our team can further protect your estate with tax inheritance planning, setting up trusts and managing the administration of an estate on your behalf. We can also advise you on granting lasting power of attorney (LPA) and its benefits.

If you have been left out of the Will of a loved one or you are faced with a will dispute raised by a family member, it makes an already difficult situation even more daunting. When this happens, our specialist probate solicitors team can help you resolve the dispute in the most efficient and peaceful way possible.

To discuss writing a will, contesting a will or setting up a trust and inheritance tax planning, book an initial, no-obligation consultation with one of our wills and probate solicitors by calling us on 0300 303 2071 or by getting in touch at info@witansolicitors.co.uk for advice.

Our Services

We are a well-renowned legal firm with decades of experience in working with individuals on matters relating to wills and inheritance. Our expert wills and probate lawyers regularly advise clients on matters, such as: 

Will Writing

Our team of wills solicitors offer an affordable will writing service that gives you peace of mind knowing that your estate will be distributed amongst your loved ones as you intended after your death. We take the time to listen to you and understand your wishes and your circumstances, so we can give you expert advice on any tax implications that you may need to consider in your Will. 

Our professional Will drafting services are competitively priced with the cost of writing a standard simple single Wil starting from £345 plus VAT and a pair of mirror Wills – from £595 plus VAT. 

Video Wills

Leaving a memory for your loved ones to hold on to when you’re gone is a wonderful gift. This is why we offer a video testament service that allows you to leave a professionally filmed video to go with your Will which will be played for your dearest when the time comes. 

Contesting a Will / Probate

Sadly, a Will doesn’t necessarily mean that there will be no inheritance disputes and when those occur, they are referred to as probate. At Witan Solicitors, we are dispute resolution experts with decades of experience and we have a will dispute solicitors team on hand to help you if you have been left out of the Will of a loved one or if someone is contesting a Will in your favour. 

Trusts & Inheritance Tax Planning

After your death, inheritance tax is paid on your estate before it’s passed on to your heirs if it passes a certain threshold. Our inheritance tax solicitors will work with you to construct the best organisation for your assets to protect your loved ones from tax deductions as much as possible. 

If appropriate, we can help you set up a trust as part of your inheritance tax plan. This could be a good solution if you want to take care of a vulnerable person, keep your children’s inheritance safe until they turn 18 or even set up a charity in your name. 

Administration of an Estate

If you have been appointed the executor of an estate by a deceased loved one and you need support with handling the administration of the estate, our Wills and probate solicitors in London, Birmingham and Northampton can help. We can manage the distribution and sale of assets, as well as anything else instructed in the Will. 

We will first schedule an initial consultation to get a more detailed understanding of your circumstances. We will then take care of any tax forms and make court applications on your behalf as needed. 

Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA)

When you’re working on your Will, it might be a good time to consider assigning lasting power of attorney. By doing so you will appoint a person to make decisions about your welfare and medical treatment on your behalf if you become incapacitated due to an accident or lose your mental capacity due to an illness. 

Our wills and probate team can also advise you on ordinary power of attorney and enduring power of attorney (EPA), including the uses and limitations of each to decide which one is most appropriate for you. 

Why Should I Use A Solicitor For My Will?

Even though you are not obliged to leave a Will, working with a professional legal advisor is the best way to protect your family from additional stress following your death. It also gives you control over the distribution of your wealth after your passing, so everything is arranged according to your wishes.

Seeking out the help of an expert wills and probate solicitor ensures that you avoid unnecessary inheritance disputes among loved ones, reduce inheritance tax deductions and minimise any delays in regard to the distribution of the assets listed in the Will. 

Why Choose Witan Solicitors?

At Witan Solicitors, we understand the sensitive nature of dealing with Wills, trusts and probate and we approach every case with compassion and discretion. Choosing our Wills solicitors ensures that you can benefit from:

• 100+ Years of Experience: Our legal team has over a century of combined experience giving us the knowledge and expertise to support you 
• Winning Cases Since 2014: We are proud to have an excellent track record of resolving contentious probate cases 
• Legal 500 Recognised: Our Solicitors have been recognised in the Legal 500
• Industry Experts: Our Wills and probate solicitors are invested in constantly improving their expertise 
• Multilingual Support: We can assist you and your family in more than 10 different languages
• Wills and probate solicitors near you: Our team works from three main locations – London, Birmingham and Northampton 

FAQ

Why leave a Will?

Leaving a will ensures that your possessions are divided according to your wishes after you are gone.

What are the benefits of making a Will?

Making a Will guarantees you peace of mind knowing that:

• Your estate is divided as you intended
• You avoid delays in your loved ones receiving their share
• You reduce the likelihood of disputes among your loved ones
• You have minimised any tax deductions to your estate 

I haven’t been included in the Will of a loved one. Can I contest the Will?

If you feel that you have been left out of a Will and you have a right to inheritance, you may have grounds to contest the Will in question. Speak to one of our probate solicitors in London, Birmingham or Northampton for advice. 

What is the difference between an Ordinary Will and a Living Will?

The traditional (or ordinary) Will sets out who you would like to inherit your possessions once you are gone. A Living Will defines who can make medical decisions on your behalf while you are still alive if you are unable to make them yourself. 

I already have a Will. When do I need to update or review it?

It’s best practice to have your existing Will reviewed every five years or if you go through a life-changing event, such as:

• Birth or death of a family member
• Marriage or divorce  
• New inheritance you have come into 
• Selling property mentioned in your Will
• Buying new property 

Learn more about when and how to amend your will here. 

How do marriage and divorce impact a Will?

While marriage automatically revokes any existing Will, divorce does not. It simply means that your ex-spouse no longer benefits from your Will. 

Should I discuss my Will with my family?

Yes, it’s a good idea to speak to your family members about your will. This helps prepare them for what they should expect and reduces the likelihood of arguments arising between them.

What happens if I don’t have a Will when I die?

If you haven’t left a Will, your estate will be divided based on certain rules, called the rules of intestacy (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales). 

If you have no living relatives, everything you own will be given to the Crown. Your children will not have access to their inheritance until they turn 18 and their assets will be managed by someone else. Making a will gives you control over who gets your possessions.